The Philippine Daily Inquirer has just named Manny Pacquiao as Filipino of the Year 2008, because of his achievements in boxing. In 2008, Manny battled three current and former champions in three different weight divisions — and defeated them all, becoming no longer a Philippine treasure, but an international superstar.

This is the second time that Manny has won the Filipino of the Year award. He won it in 2003 when he defeated Mexican icon Marco Antonio Barrera. The only other person who has won this award twice is former President Corazon Aquino.

Manny Pacquiao was born Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao, on December 17, 1978 in Bukidnon. He was raised in General Santos, South Cotabato, where he resides today. He is a Filipino professional boxer, husband to Jinkee Pacquiao and father to Jemuel, Michael, Princess, and Queen Elizabeth.

The boxing life of Manny Pacquiao began at the young age of 16. His first professional fight (and win) against Edmund “Enting” Ignacio on January 22, 1995 inspired him to take up boxing as a career.

Since then, he was sparred (and triumphed) against big boxing personalities such as Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Márquez, Érik Morales, Oscar Larios, Jorge Solis and Oscar De La Hoya.

Pacquiao’s achievements include being the current WBC Lightweight Champion, the former WBC super featherweight world champion, the IBF super bantamweight world champion, and the WBC flyweight world champion.

Pacquiao is the number one pound-for-pound boxer in the world.

He is due to face boxers Ricky Hatton and subsequently Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in 2009.

Sylvester Stallone is considering Manny Pacquiao to be his co-star in an upcoming action-comedy flick.

Erik Pineda, Pacquiao’s business manager, met with Stallone in his Los Angeles Office on January 6, presumably to talk movie deets. Manny brought along sons Michael and Jimwell, who got rewarded a pair of boxing gloves from Stallone.

The life of Manny Pacquiao may include many adventures, but, Manny Pacquiao, a Hollywood star???

Update: Telegraph says that Pacquiao’s camp is demanding for 60% of the profits, but Hatton’s camp is willing to concede only 50%. The fight is expected to reap £40 million. If things fall through, Pacquiao might be battling Floyd Mayweather, Jr. instead.

Manny Pacquiao is supposedly battling Ricky Hatton in Las Vegas on May 2 but BoxingScene.com reports that no contract has been signed yet.

“We are trying to improve the figures,” is the statement from Pacquiao’s camp, implying that greater profits are being bargained for.

Pacquiao is scheduled to arrive in Manila today. Read the life of Manny Pacquiao.

Who are you rooting for?